Withering Heights (or why pay for hot yoga?)

I have a tendency to surround myself with people who are crazy enough to love the heat of summer – in Phoenix – people who actually don’t seem to mind hiking in the inferno. Granted, we do hike at 5:30 in the morning when it’s “cool.” “Cool” in this context is defined by its comparison to the high temperature of around 110F during the day. But do you remember the origin of the city name Phoenix? After a summer-time race up Sunrise Trail it’s not hard to identify with the bird that catches fire and is reborn from its ashes.

I escaped for a little while to Colorado during the week of the fourth of July and got some perspective on the whole “it’s a dry heat” notion when I saw people clearly feeling it at 90F during the holiday festivities. Oh right, I remember – 90F is actually not a lovely temperature for fall. It’s hot. It’s actually, really, hot.

Of course since we were so close to the continental divide we were drawn to a little peak bagging adventure. We hiked up to just over 14,000 feet, where the temperature was truly glorious. And the funny thing is, despite feeling some of the typical effects related to the altitude, I felt strong. My muscles weren’t twitchy and cramping. I wasn’t feeling heavy and lethargic. Before arriving in Colorado I had been struggling on our much more mild fitness hikes, and I was starting to wonder whether I’d manage to walk up one 14’er. In fact I managed to take on a 14’er combo.

It’s not my intention to discourage desert hikers during the summer, but I hereby grant you permission to feel like it’s pretty tough. And I implore you to keep it safe. Those warnings about dehydration should be taken seriously. Pop electrolyte pills if necessary – I certainly do. Stay safe, stay cool, and look on the bright side – you can skip your hot yoga class and just head to the hills for a hike!

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About The Author

It seems I have always been an Early Rise Hiker - I love to experience the sunrise when I start a hike, and relish an "early rise" or rapid ascent on the mountain. In January 2015 I founded a meetup group named Early Rise Hikers just to find a few like minded folks in the Phoenix area to hike with. The group grew quickly, and is currently comprised of over 4,000 Early Risers.
I am continually inspired by the joy of physical challenge in exhilarating landscapes to reach further, push harder, climb higher. I hope that by sharing these experiences with the community via the hiking group and this blog I will inspire others to do the same, regardless of their starting point. The rewards for all of us are many!

Comments(2)

Shannon Tolbert

July 24, 2017

Hey sarita! Enjoy the blogs even though I haven’t hiked w you all recently. Question for you….if I have a friend in Maricopa and I’m in north Scottsdale is there a hike you would suggest between us that would be 2-5 mile loop or and up and back. Easier hike like quartz, gateway or lost dog. Thanks in advance for the suggestion.